Yobongo location-based chat now available in App Store

Yobongo, a location-based chat app that allows you to chat with people that are nearby, is now available on the App Store. The application has been in beta testing for a month, and claims to make it "super fun and easy to chat with people nearby." Right now the app covers New York City, San Francisco and Austin. The company says that it will determine other cities to add based on "demand from passionate fans".

When the app is launched in one of these cities, it will determine what chat group the user will be added to based on location, who they have spoken to in the past, and group density. The size of the group is limited to 10 people.

"We analyze every pair of messages sent through the system and use that to build up an understanding of who you like talking with," explained founder Caleb Elston. "Then when you open Yobongo we place you with people you have the strongest affinity for."

Thus far, the app has been used only by 150 beta testers hand picked by the company. It has also been released under a different name in Canada in order to test out functionality. It's certainly an intriguing concept, and an interesting way to meet new people who may have the same interests as you.

An obvious concern (which strangely, I don't see mentioned anywhere) would be security. Do you really want to connect with people you don't know and let them know you're nearby? Are you just assuming you can trust anyone who owns an iPhone?

What do you think? Is this something you'd like to try out? If you have tried it, do you like it?